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Learner Impact Zana Pekmez | Tomorrow University of Applied Sciences

18 Oct 2023 · 1 min

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1:23

In this solo testimonial, Zana Pekmez (42, originally from Bosnia and Herzegovina) outlines her professional background—working full‑time at Microsoft while completing a PhD—and explains why she enrolled in the Tomorrow University of Applied Sciences program. She sought to fill knowledge gaps and gain inspiration to become a responsible leader, focusing her effort on creative action. Pekmez describes her long‑term mission to drive inclusive economic growth, emphasizing that it requires expertise, activism, and a deep passion for equity. She positions her work at Microsoft and her academic research as a catalyst for this mission, fostering innovation, advocating sustainable practices, and building cross‑sector partnerships. She cites Sam Altman’s view that technology can be an equalizing force, but only if collective effort is applied.

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My name is Zana Pekmes, and I'm 42 years old, originally from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Before I decided to enroll into the program, I was working full-time with Microsoft, but also finalizing my PhD project. I joined the program to fill the knowledge gaps, but more importantly, to provide me with inspiration to become a responsible leader and show me how to direct effort and focus in the right areas of creative action. The significance of my mission lies in its complexity and long-term nature. Achieving inclusive economic growth requires not only experts and knowledgeable individuals, but also activism, and most importantly, a deep passion for fostering a more equitable and prosperous global economy. My work at Microsoft, combined with my academic research, allows me to be a catalyst for inclusive economic growth by fostering innovation, advocating for sustainable practices and engaging in cross-sector partnership. Sam Altman, the founder of OpenAI, said technology is truly an equalizing force, but it needs all of us to get there.